When Jesus was on the cross and said, "Forgive them Father for they know not what they do," do you think....

Question

that Jesus was talking only about his captors, or was he also talking about the future Christians who would perform unspeakable acts in His name?

Answer 1

I have thought that myself. You are a very intuitive person, and don't listen to the little poeple who are putting you down, they simply don't have a life outside of thier own infantile existance.

Answer 2

He was talking about the Roman captors, as you put it.
However, you make an interesting point, although off base with the scripture.

You may find the illustration interesting which talks about the weeds and the wheat growing together to maturity at: Matthew 13:24-30

Then, prompted by an curious disciple, Jesus offers up the explanation of the Illustration or Parable:

"Then after dismissing the crowds he went into the house. And his disciples came to him and said: “Explain to us the illustration of the weeds in the field.” 37 In response he said: “The sower of the fine seed is the Son of man; 38 the field is the world; as for the fine seed, these are the sons of the kingdom; but the weeds are the sons of the wicked one, 39 and the enemy that sowed them is the Devil. The harvest is a conclusion of a system of things, and the reapers are angels. 40 Therefore, just as the weeds are collected and burned with fire, so it will be in the conclusion of the system of things. 41 The Son of man will send forth his angels, and they will collect out from his kingdom all things that cause stumbling and persons who are doing lawlessness, 42 and they will pitch them into the fiery furnace. There is where [their] weeping and the gnashing of [their] teeth will be. 43 At that time the righteous ones will shine as brightly as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Let him that has ears listen." -Matthew 13:36-43

It should be rather interesting to you the following information about the "weeds" that Jesus what probably talking about:

“bearded darnel.” Gr., zi·za·ni′on; (Heb.), zu·neh′. A species of the grass family whose seeds have poisonous properties believed to stem from a fungus growing within them.

“Let Both Grow Together Until the Harvest”

What happened to true Christianity after the first century? In an illustration, Jesus had warned that the Devil would sow “weeds,” imitation Christians, in among “the wheat,” true Christians, “the sons of the kingdom.” Both would grow together until “the harvest,” the “conclusion of a system of things.” (Matt. 13:24-30, 36-43) During the great apostasy that developed after the death of the apostles, “the weeds” predominated for many centuries.

But what about “the wheat”? Who were among “the sons of the kingdom” during the centuries-long apostasy? We cannot say for a certainty. The literal weeds of Jesus’ illustration are generally considered to be bearded darnel, which very much resembles wheat until maturity, when it can readily be distinguished from wheat by its smaller black seeds. Similarly, only at “the harvest” would a clear distinction be made between imitation Christians and the true “sons of the kingdom.” Nevertheless, Jesus said: “Let both grow together until the harvest.” True Christianity, then, was never completely stamped out.

Throughout the centuries there have always been truth lovers. To mention just a few: John Wycliffe (c. 1330-1384) and William Tyndale (c. 1494-1536) furthered the work of Bible translation even at the risk of their life or freedom. Wolfgang Fabricius Capito (1478-1541), Martin Cellarius (1499-1564), Johannes Campanus (c. 1500-1575), and Thomas Emlyn (1663-c. 1741) accepted the Bible as God’s Word and rejected the Trinity. Henry Grew (1781-1862) and George Storrs (1796-1879) not only accepted the Bible and rejected the Trinity but also expressed appreciation for the ransom sacrifice of Christ.

Answer 3

Many Jews and Palestinians have a much deeper understanding of history than younger nationalities like USA nad Australia.

Jesus especially had a *profound understanding that His words would be repeated for milleniums.
Even if it was a prayer towards His torturers, it was a demonstration of Heart never before displayed in human history. Such a resentment free desire was unprecedented. That made His claims that God was a loving Father, and not a law demanding Lord, so much more believeable.

*Because I see Jesus doen't just speak for the present at the expense of the future, His Gethsemane prayer ("Let this cup pass from me") was more than human frailty.
A "cup" in the 23rd Psalm is a blessing, not a punishment. Jewish tradition has no "cup of poison".
Socrates, about 400 years prior to Jesus, did have to drink hollock unless he promised to stop teaching the young people. That was what Jesus was refering to. If He would not give up, he would have to suffer.

Answer 4

Probably a little of both, obviously, I can't speak for Jesus, but he was probably talking about all of mankind - which would include his captors etc. My sins are the reason he died, so in a sense, it was my actions that killed him - and i commited said sins without knowledge of the measures that would be nessecary (Jesus living the perfect life and then taking my place on the cross) so that I could be with God. This is true for everyone's sins, so, I think that it's safe to say Jesus was talking about everyone.

Answer 5

Those who do "unspeakable acts" in Jesus name can not be Christians according to Jesus own Words so it would be for His captors then

Answer 6

Well first thing is that Jesus died on a torture stake not a cross and second of all when he said forgibem them father for they do not know what they are doing he meant only his captors

Answer 7

He was talking about everyone. Especially ones that do not accept Him as He is, Savior. Christians are not the only ones who are performing unspeakable acts.

Answer 8

Jesus' willingness to forgive perfectly reflecting his Father's love was evidenced when he was on the torture stake. Subjected to a shameful death, with nails piercing his hands and feet, what did Jesus speak about? Did he call out to his heavenly father to punish his executioners? No, but as you already stated Jesus' last words were: "Forgive them Father for they know not what they do". - Luke chapter 23 verse 34.

Here Jesus was evidently speaking about the Roman soldiers who impaled him. They did not know what they were doing, being ignorant of who Jesus really was. Of course, the religious leaders who instigated that execution were far more reprehensible, for they acted knowingly and maliciously. For many of them, no forgiveness was possible - John 11:45-53

Answer 9

He also talking about the high priest and religious leaders who falsely accused Jesus and had Him crucified by the Romans. All that played a part because of their blindness to the fact that Jesus was the Christ.

Answer 10

He wasn't a fortune teller so I hardly think he could have fathomed the exploitative impact for the future I do believe he would have been forsaken if there was a such thing as a God to begin with but his short comings would not have given him such awareness either . I ONLY HOPE OUT OF PITY AND SYMPATHY FOR THE MAN THAT IT WAS LESS SEVERE THAN WE ARE TOLD.

Answer 11

I think that at that time he was talking just have his captors but I am sure that he has said it more then once since then because people are such sinners and do horrible things to one another